Montrose boss backs players to respond to thrashing

A couple of days of stewing over their 7-0 midweek defeat hasn’t made the “embarrassing” result any more palatable for Montrose manager Paul Hegarty.

But the Links Park boss is confident he’ll get the response he’s looking for when his players return to action at Annan this afternoon.

“I’ve not changed my opinion on the Stirling match one bit,” Hegarty reflected.

“It wasn’t good enough, and the boys know that.

“There was nothing in the game after half an hour and then we went three down before half-time.

“We told them to see what happens if we get the first goal in the second half. Instead, we lost the fourth goal eight seconds after the break and it was then a case of how many.

“But this is a great bunch of boys and that performance wasn’t in their nature or character.

“In the four games before that we had two wins and two draws and were decent without setting the heather on fire.

“That’s the sort of form we need to get back to at Annan.

“The players are as honest as the day is long and I’m sure I’ll get the right reaction.”

Hegarty doesn’t have any fresh injuries or suspensions to deal with but there will be “at least two” changes to his team.